Arsenal 'really close' to signing wonderkid Karetsas: Historical move!
Arsenal is reportedly "very close" to sealing a £38 million deal for Genk's teenage playmaker Konstantinos Karetsas, a move that would make him Greece's most expensive footballer. Amidst a relatively quiet transfer window for the Gunners, a key aspect of this surprising acquisition involves loaning the 17-year-old back to his current club for further development.
Arsenal is reportedly on the verge of a significant summer acquisition, with sources indicating the club is "very close to an agreement" with Belgian side Genk for the transfer of teenage sensation Konstantinos Karetsas. The deal is expected to be worth around €45 million (£38m), plus performance-related bonuses, a figure that would make Karetsas the most expensive Greek footballer in history, surpassing Kostas Manolas's 2019 move to Napoli.
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This reported progress comes as something of a "left-field" move for Arsenal, who have seen rivals make early strides in the transfer market while their own major targets remain unconfirmed. The Gunners are still weighing options for a new No.9, with Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko in contention, and their pursuit of midfielder Martin Zubimendi is now complicated by strong interest from Real Madrid. Zubimendi himself recently dismissed claims of an impending Arsenal move, stating his focus on international duty and acknowledging new Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso as his "idol."
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Despite these ongoing sagas, Arsenal has apparently "taken the lead" in the race for Karetsas, a highly sought-after playmaker. Reports from March indicated Liverpool were scouting the teenager when he became Greece’s youngest-ever goalscorer at 17. Other European giants like Manchester United, Newcastle, Chelsea, PSG, and Bayern Munich have also been closely monitoring his progress.
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The crucial element behind Arsenal's success in this transfer appears to be a strategic agreement to loan Karetsas back to Genk for the 2026/2027 season. This arrangement is deemed the "key point" to the imminent transfer, ensuring the prodigious talent secures consistent game time for his continued development before fully integrating into Mikel Arteta's squad.
